Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PACE's mission is to promote and encourage the growth of quality high school academic tournaments around the country, to provide guidance or assistance to colleges or high schools that wish to organize academic tournaments, to encourage innovation and creativity in academic competition, to encourage quizbowl teams to participate in tournaments across the country prior to regional, state, or national championships, and to produce the question set for and run the National Scholastic Championship each year.
- Income
- $90,352
- Spending
- $37,426
- Reserves
- 45.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 80%
- Highest pay
- $300, vp of event management
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $32,848 spent. Hosted the 2025 National Scholastic Championship, a high school quizbowl tournament that attracted 84 teams (over 400students) from high schools around the country
- $120 spent. Funded hsquizbowl.org, a website visited by thousands of people each day to learn about upcoming quizbowl events and discuss various quizbowl topics. Funding provided by Microsoft Azure Nonprofit Grant.
- $2,000 spent. Issued scholarships to highly qualified high school graduates who demonstrated excellence in academics, community service, and quizbowl, along with financial need
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on March 15, 2013.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.